OzFish welcomes new Australian government ministry

OzFish congratulates the Australian Labor Party on securing majority at the 2025 election and looks forward to working with the re-elected Albanese government to restore crucial fish habitat across Australia.

OzFish also welcomes the members of the new ministry, and thanks outgoing ministers for their contributions over the previous years.

OzFish welcomes Murray Watt to the role of Minister for the Environment and Water. It also welcomes the return of Julie Collins to the role of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Senator Anthony Chisholm to the role of Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

OzFish CEO Cassie Price said, “OzFishers across Australia look forward to working with the re-elected Albanese government to shore up the future of Australia’s waterways, fish habitat and recreational fishing.”

Leading up to the election, Labor pledged $1.5 million for oyster reef restoration in Moreton Bay, $1.5 million to expand mangrove, seagrass and shellfish reef restoration in Cairns and $600,000 for saltmarsh works in Lake Illawarra, Burrill Lake and the Clyde River.

Ms Price thanked outgoing Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and said, “Tanya was a champion for fish habitat during her period as Minister for the Environment, we sincerely thank her for her efforts and congratulate her on her new role as Minister for Social Services.”

“Thank you to the Senator for Queensland and outgoing Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Nita Green, for her service to supporting one of Australia’s most important places for fish habitat.”

“We also extend our thanks to Senator Jonathon Duniam, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry, and the Liberal Party of Australia for their pre-election support to fish habitat.”

This year, OzFish invited politicians to come fishing with locals in their electorate’s waterways to discuss how to support Australians to take action for waterway restoration. It also called on political parties to commit to four federal fixes for fish.

Ms Price said, “Australia’s fish, and fish habitat, have been hit hard over the last century. Urgent work must be undertaken to restore waterways, help them be resilient to climate change and support thriving fish populations – and that’s where OzFish come in.”

For almost a decade, OzFish has brought scientists, government, organisations and communities together to give recreational fishers and other passionate locals the tools, inspiration and support to restore their own local waterways and fish habitats.

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